Have you ever heard of a dangling participle? It doesn't sound like a good thing, does it? Well, it certainly isn't something you want in your writing. Let's look at why that is the case.
First, we need to talk about what exactly a "participle" is. Every complete sentence will have a subject and a verb. Verbs can take many forms (past, present, or future, for example). A present participle verb is one that ends in "-ing." Some examples of present participle verbs are "running," "cooking," "sleeping," and "eating."
Here's a case of the dreaded dangling participle.
While sleeping, the alarm clock fell off of Tim's table.
Why is that not a correctly written sentence? Look at that phrase in the beginning of the sentence ("while sleeping"). Who or what is that phrase really meant to describe? It's meant to describe Tim. He's the one who was sleeping. However, here's where the problem occurs. Due to the way the sentence is written, it implies that it was the alarm clock that was sleeping! Isn't that silly?
To fix that dreaded dangling participle, you can reword your sentence. Here are a few examples of a correct way to express that statement.
1.) While Tim was sleeping, the alarm clock fell off of the table.
2.) The alarm clock fell off of the table while Tim was sleeping.
3.) While sleeping, Tim heard the alarm clock fall off of the table.
Now it's your turn! I'll give you 5 incorrect sentences, all with dreaded dangling participles. I'd like you to point out what the problem is and then rewrite the sentence to make it correct!
1.) When walking, the sidewalk tripped Lourdes.
2.) Shopping at the mall, multiple bags were held by Carol's husband.
3.) While driving to school, the cell phone rang for Ana.
4.) Installing a new sink, tools were dropped by the plumber.
5.) When thinking about the long holiday weekend, an idea occurred to Mrs. Raether.
10 comments:
1. Sounds like the sidewalk stuck out it's feet intentionally.
While Lourdes was walking on the sidewalk she tripped and fell.
2. Sounds like the multiple bags were doing the shopping.
While Carol shopped at the mall, her husband held multiple bags.
3. Can the cell phone drive?
Ana's cell phone rang as she drove to school.
4. The tools seems to be installing the sink.
The plumber dropped his tools while installing the new sink.
5.Ms. Raether had an idea while thinking about the long holiday weekend.
1.- When you read it is like they are saying that the sidewalk intentionally make Lourdes stumble or almost fall.
Correct: When Lourdes was walking, she almost tripped on the sidewalk.
2.- When you read said that multiple bags were doing the shopping.
Correct: Carol’s husband was holding multiple bags, because they were shopping at the mall.
3.- Read like the phone was driven to school.
Correct: The cell phone rang while Ana was driving to the school.
4.- The tools stopped or dropped themselves when they were installing the sink.
Correct: The plumber dropped his tools after installing a new sink.
5.- She was doing two things thinking about the long holiday upcoming and having an idea.
Correct: An idea occurred to Mrs. Rather, when she was thinking about the upcoming long holiday weekend.
February 01, 2010
Roxana Alvarez
sounds like the cell phone was driving to school.
While driving to school Ana's cell phone rang.
Angela B
1) The first sentence sounds as though the sidewalk is walking and it tripped Lourdes.
- While Loudres was walking she tripped on the sidewalk.
2)The second sentence sounds like the bags are doing the shopping.
-While Carol shopped at the mall her husband held multiple shopping bags.
3) The third sentence sounds as though the cell phone is driving to school.
-As Ana is driving to school the cell phone began t ring.
4) Sentence four sounds like the tools are installing the sink
While the plumber was installing a new sink he drooped the tools.
5) Sentence five sounds like the holiday weekend is thinking about the idea.
When Mrs. Raether thought about the holiday weekend, she came up with an idea.
-Angel Guerrazzi
1.) Sounds like the sidewalk was walking and tripped Lourdes.
While Loudes was walking, she tripped on the sidewalk.
2.) Were the bags doing the shopping? No!
Carol's husband held multiple bags while shopping at the mall.
3.) It sounds like the cell phone was driving!
While Ana was driving to school her cell phone rang.
4.)The tools were installing the sink? No way!
The plumber dropped his tools while installing the new sink.
5.) Sounds like the long weekend had an idea.
Ms. Raether had an idea while thinking about the long holiday weekend.
Lia Muth
- Sentence one gives the impression that the sidewalk did the tripping.
Rewritten: Lourdez tripped while she was walking on the sidewalk.
- Sentence two gives the impression that multiple bags were doing the shopping.
Rewritten: Multiple bags were held by Carol's husband, while they were shopping at the mall.
- Sentence three gives the idea that the cell phone was driving.
Rewritten: While Anna was driving to school, the cell phone rang for her.
- Sentence four gives the impression that tools belonging to a new sink were dropped.
Rewritten: The plumber dropped tools while he was installing a new sink.
Sentence five gives the impression that the holiday weekend had an idea.
Rewritten: An idea occurred to Mrs. Raether, while she was thinking about the long holiday weekend.
Deidra W.
1.) When walking, the sidewalk tripped Lourdes.
--Lourdes tripped on the sidewalk while walking.
2.) Shopping at the mall, multiple bags were held by Carol's husband.
--Carol's husband held multiple bags while shopping at the mall.
3.) While driving to school, the cell phone rang for Ana.
--Ana's cell phone rang while she drove to school.
4.) Installing a new sink, tools were dropped by the plumber.
--The plumber dropped his tools while installing a new sink.
5.) When thinking about the long holiday weekend, an idea occurred to Mrs. Raether.
--An idea occurred to Mrs. Raether when she thought about the long holiday weekend.
-Mianta Durand
1.) When walking, the sidewalk tripped Lourdes.
-Sounds like the sidewalk got up and tripped Lourdes.
Correct: Lourdes tripped while walking on the sidewalk.
2.) Shopping at the mall, multiple bags were held by Carol's husband.
-Sounds like the bags were shopping.
Correct: Carol's husband held multiple bags while shopping at the mall.
3.) While driving to school, the cell phone rang for Ana.
-Sounds like the cell phone was driving.
Correct: While Ana was driving to school her cell phone rang.
4.) Installing a new sink, tools were dropped by the plumber.
-Sounds like the tools were installing a new sink.
Correct: The plumber dropped tools while installing a new sink.
5.) When thinking about the long holiday weekend, an idea occurred to Mrs. Raether.
-Sounds like an idea was thinking?
Correct: An idea occurred to Mrs. Raether when she was thinking about the long holiday weekend.
Melissa Lobsinger
1.The sidewalk can’t trip Lourdes.
Correct #1 - When walking, Lourdes tripped on the sidewalk.
2. The bags can’t shop.
Correct #2 - Carol's husband held multiple bags while shopping at the mall.
3. It sounds as if the cell phone is driving.
Correct #3 - Ana’s cell phone rang while driving to school.
4. Sounds like the tools are installing the new sink.
Correct #4 - The plumber dropped his tools when installing a new sink.
5. The idea can’t think of the long holiday weekend.
Correct #5 - An idea occurred to Mrs. Raether when thinking about the long holiday weekend.
1.The sidewalk can’t trip Lourdes.
Correct #1 - When walking, Lourdes tripped on the sidewalk.
2. The bags can’t shop.
Correct #2 - Carol's husband held multiple bags while shopping at the mall.
3. It sounds as if the cell phone is driving.
Correct #3 - Ana’s cell phone rang while driving to school.
4. Sounds like the tools are installing the new sink.
Correct #4 - The plumber dropped his tools when installing a new sink.
5. The idea can’t think of the long holiday weekend.
Correct #5 - An idea occurred to Mrs. Raether when thinking about the long holiday weekend.
Maria C. Torres
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